“It is the simple truth that mortal man cannot understand why the gods shape events as they do. Why some men and women are cut off in fullest flower while others live to dwindle into shadows of themselves. Why virtue must sometimes be trampled and evil flourish amid the beauty of a country garden. Why chance, sheer random chance, plays such an overwhelming role in the running of the life lines and the fate lines of men.”

I’m very pleased to announce that Conversation Tree Press will be publishing a signed, limited edition of Guy Gavriel Kay’s acclaimed Tigana. A powerful exploration of defiance against tyranny, the preservation of history, and the fight to reclaim lost identity, it is a masterpiece by one of Canada’s most distinguished authors.

Set in the Peninsula of the Palm, a region that closely resembles Renaissance Italy, Tigana tells the story of a people whose homeland has been obliterated—not just physically, but from the very memories of everyone except those who once called it home. It follows a brave group of men and women as they embark on a perilous crusade to overthrow their conquerors and restore to their world the brilliance of a long-lost name: Tigana.

Kay’s narrative blends the richness of epic fantasy with the intimacy of human emotion, creating a poignant and powerful story with intricate world-building, nuanced characters, and profound themes.

First published in 1990, Publishers Weekly described it as a “brilliant and complex portrayal of good and evil” and USA Today praised it as a “boldly complex, intelligently articulated romance.”

I first read Tigana years ago while on a trip to Quebec City with my wife. As luck would have it, Guy was doing a reading of his newest novel at the time—Children of Earth and Sky—in Toronto right after we returned, and I was able to attend.

It’s one of the few times I’ve been able to have a copy of one of my favourite books signed by the author in person, and I’m thrilled to now be publishing a limited edition all these years later.

We are still in the early stages of production, and I’m honoured to be working with Guy as we bring Tigana to life. Please subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of this page if you’d like to stay updated.

A list of some of our upcoming titles can be found further below.

Edition Details

Tigana will be published in three states: Collector’s, Deluxe and Lettered. Prototypes and all artwork for the edition will be presented before pre-orders open, and the edition will feature:

• Printing on luxurious paper, upgraded on the Deluxe and Lettered states.
• Durable, Smyth-sewn bindings with a ribbon marker and head and tail bands.
• Premium binding materials, upgraded on the Deluxe and Lettered states.
• Handmade slipcases/enclosures included at no additional cost.
• Hand binding by Ludlow Bookbinders.
• All artwork included in all states.

About Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay is the international bestselling Canadian author of fourteen novels, including the Fionavar Tapestry series, The Last Light of the Sun, Under Heaven, River of Stars, Children of Earth and Sky, and A Brightness Long Ago. He has been awarded the International Goliardos Prize for his work in the literature of the fantastic and won the World Fantasy Award for Ysabel in 2008. In 2014 he was named to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Upcoming Books

There are a number of titles in development, the following have been announced:

• Isaac Asimov’s Foundation - pre-orders open the week of August 26th 2024. See here for details.
• Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris - pre-orders in October/November 2024.
• Weird. - our ongoing collection of weird fiction, edited by S.T. Joshi, will see its second volume released in 2025. The first volume, The House on the Borderlands & Others will be shipping before the end of the year, and while all copies are currently reserved, a handful may become available after shipping is completed.
• Octavia Butler’s Kindred - release date to be announced.